Refining engine



Dec. 8, 1931. J HASKELL 1,835,984

REFINING ENGINE Filed Dec. 2, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. .8, 1931.

J. 0. HASKELL 1,835,984

REFINING ENGINE Filed Dec. 2, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 aummq J. D. HASKELL REFINING ENGINE Dec. 8, 1931.

Filed Dec. 2, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 8, 1931. J HASKELL 1,835,984

REFINING ENGINE Filed Dec. 2, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.7

Patented Dec. 8, 1931 JOHN D. EASKELL, OF FULTON, NEW YORK REFINING ENGINE Application filed December 2, 1930. Serial No. 499,567.

This invention relates to an improvement in refining or Jordan engines for the preparation of paper pulp stock.

So far as this applicant is aware, the ordi- B nary type of Jordan engines are made with a taper plug on which are fastened bars or knives which co-act with similar knives fastened intothe outer shell which is also cone shaped. Adjustment of the contiguity between the fixed knives in the shell and the rotatable knives on the plug is made by sliding the plug endwise into or-out of the shell to give greater or less clearance. The stock enters the shell at the small end and by centrifugal force is drawn through the shell and discharged at the large end of the cone. In making the adjustment in this type of Jordan engine it is necessary to have a sliding sleeve coupling between the motor and engine if directly connected, or else to have the whole motor base connected to the Jordan shaft and adapted to slide back and forth with it. All of this is expensive construction, and not particularly advisable inasmuch as the thrust bearings are subjected to wear and the sliding coupling is a source of maintenance cost, also it requires a greater floor space due to endwise adjustment.

The'object of this invention is the production of a refining engine of the nature stated having parts of special construction and arrangement. A particular difference from apparatus of similar character and purpose with which this applicant is acquainted, lies in the shape of the outer casing, which surrounds the revoluble discs. While the discs are of true circular construction, the shell or casing is made in the form of an approximate ellipse. At two points on the circumference of the discs, at the shorter diameter of the elliptical casing, the shell or casing converges to a close clearance with the discs .nd cutting member between them, and at the ends of the principal diameter of the ellipse the casing extends away from the discs. The object of this construction is to cause a pulsation of the stock in solution within the casing, and at the longer diameter of the ellipse the stock is thrown away from the discs, which creates a suction at the center for drawing stock into the casing between the knives on the discs, and at the shorter diameter of the ellipse the stock is compressed inwardly and caused to flow back between the knives of the discs for repeated cutting action.

Another advantageous feature wherein this invention is believed to differ from the conventional Jordan engine is that the largest or coarsest fibers are retained within the casing longer than the finer reduced fibers, whereas in the Jordan engine the opposite is the case. In other words the heavi er particles are acted upon more rapidly or strongly by the centrifugal force in the customary cone shaped design of the Jordan engine, and these coarser fibers are pushed through the machine more quickly than the finer and lighter fibers. Therefore, those coarse fibers do not get the complete treatment which they require. With the present invention, however, those heavy and coarser fibers are thrown outwardly more rapidly upon entering the vanes or blades of the rotating disc, but by reason of their size and weight they are prevented from working out of the outlet port until they are sufiiciently reduced to work out and to be replaced by incoming fibers of larger and coarser size. At each of the compression points referred to hereinabove these coarser fibers are compressed back between the knives for further treatment until ultimately they are reduced to a degree of fineness to permit them to be displaced by larger fibers and to finally pass through the machine in a refined condition. The percentage of coarse fiber in stock will, of course, depend upon the particular grade of paper to be made, but the action in passing through a refiner constructed in accordance with this invention will be relatively the same though the capacity would be cut down with a large percentage of coarse fibers.

The construction and arrangement of the parts of this invention and of the illustrated modifications thereof, are set out in the accompanying drawings of which Fig. 1 represents a vertical section lengthwise. Fig. 2 is an end view partly in vertical section, with portions of the casing broken away to disclose internal devices. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View of a modified form of th1s 1nvention. Fig. 4 is a vertical section thereof.

' 1, 3, 4 and 7 show all parts assembled.

Throughout the drawings and description the same number is used to refer to the same part. 1

Considering Figs. 1 and 2, on a suitable base 1 are erected pedestals 2 and 3 carrying brackets 4 and 5 to support box form structures (Sand 7 provided with any desired form ans of 'stufiingboxes 8 and 9, or equivalent bearings for the main shaft 10. p

The outer casing or shell 11, made up of vany number of connected portions, has the substantially elliptical shape set out in Fig.

i 2. The sides 12 and 13 are circular in form and are separate parts from the outer shell. Each side or wall has a central, hollow outwardly extending portion. These portions are cylindrical and are marked 14 and 15, and they are rotatively supported in stuffing box bearings 16 and 17, or the like, with which the box form structures 6 and 7 are provided as shown. Each of the circular side walls 12 and 13 is to a certain extent revoluble, and is provided with means for revolving it comprising worm gear 18, a pinion 19 and an annular gear 20, and these devices will be again mentioned in'the description of the operation. 4

Within the casing and keyed upon the main shaft 10 is a cutting disc 21 with blades or knives 22 disposed in any selected order as indicated in Fig. 6. Near the knives 22 are brought the knives 23 of thecircular sides 12 and 13.

In Figs. 1 and 2 is indicated in broken lines a sand trap 24, or depression in the outer casing of this invention at the bottom into which particles of iron or unusually large pieces of unrefinable material would be lodged. A washout connection 29 and outflow pipe 30 are to be provided as shown in Fig. 2 in order that the sludge may be washed out periodically while the machine is in operatlon. In Fig. 1 is shown the inlet 25 and outlet 26 respectively in communication with the box .form structures 6 and 7, and there will also be noted in Fig. 1, located in the extensions 14 and 15 of the circular side walls, the two volute impellers 27 and 28 mounted on the drive shaft 10, one on the inlet side arranged to force or impel the stock into the rotating knives, and the other on the outlet or discharge side to draw the stock away from the discs and impel it towards the discharge opening. It will be understood tion'will be squeezed downwardly that many parts may be obviously changed in form and size.

Considering Figs. 3, 4' and 5, the drive shaft 31 passes through the box form structures 32, 32', which are open boxes, and afford bearings for the shaft as before. The circular side walls 33 of the apparatus are the same as before, and maybe rotated in like manner for adjustment. This form of the invention is provided with the stufl passages 34, 36 and '37, and possesses further the side weir boxes 38 and 39. A change is also made in theouter casing, as illustrated in Fig. 4, which is formed in two extended portions 40 and 41, thepurposeof which is explained hereinbelow.

In operation, the machine as set forth in Figs. 1 and 2, functions as follows:

The stock is admitted through inlet 25 into box 7 and'by way of the cyhndrical extenplates. The stock which is thrown outward- (11y by the blades is sent clear of the rotating isc on the long diameter of the elliptical outer casin and is carried around the casing to the polnt at which it converges towards the disc at the shorter axis of the casing. Some of the stock will be forced back through the spaces between the blades and knives through which it has just passed, but the ma'or poretween the clearance on the discharge side of the rotating disc and carried away through the outlet extension 14 and outlet 26. 'Before any one fiber can pass completely through the machine however, it will have to be subjected to several movements outwardly by centrifugal force and inwardly by compression, and each time the fiber will be exposed to further treatment between the rotating blades and knives of the disc wall plates.

In the operation the blades or knives of the inlet side would be arranged with greater spacing and area than on the discharge side, so that there would always be a tendency to force the stock forward through the machine at a rate equal to the capacity of the machine. Assuming that the main shaft on which the rotating disc is fixed is held rigidly against end thrust, it will be readily seen that a very close cutting or brushing clearance can be maintained between the knives and blades on the inlet side, and a finer adjustment can be made entirely independent of the first set of knives, so that two different degrees of refineon' the two side walls on opposite sides of the rotating disc can be different, which would likewise produce a more complete refinement of the stock.

Regarding the operation of the modlfied form of this invention disclosed in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the parts of which are substantially of the same construction as before, but instead of having the outlet in the center of the machine longitudinally as shown in Fi s. 1 and 2, there would be provided one ischar e port from the first section arranged at t e compression point and discharging into the weir or control box 38. From this weir box the stock would pass through a pipe connection as shown in Fig. 3 back into a similar inlet connection on the opposite side of the rotating disc and thence to a second outlet by wayof the box form element 32 and extension 36 into weir box 39 and discharge conduit 37. This arrangement will allow visible and physical tests to be made on the stock at the point where .it discharges into the first weir box, and control made by moving the disc closer to the rotatin blades or further away to suit conditions. ikewise there would be means of taking samples of the stock from the second discharge for tests and further control effected by the movable walls on the second passage of the stock between the rotating disc and the stationary knives of the walls or sides. In Fig. 3 the pipe connection leading from the weir box 38 is marked 38.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 7, the base 42 supports the main shaft 43 in vertical position in a step bearing 44. Therefore the shaft cannot become displaced lengthwise and the disc 45 revolves always in the same horizontal position. In this modification the rotative side walls 46 and 47 are provided with the annular gears such as gear 48, meshing with the pinion 49 driven by worm wheel 50 and worm 51, which are fellow members with like parts 19 and 18 shown in Fig. 1. The material enters by way of the hollow cylindrical inlet 52 and passes downwardly as indicated by the arrows into a suitable outet chamber 53. The operation is thus practically the same as that explained for the other forms of this invention disclosed herein.

In this description it is not intended to limit the construction to two points of compression. In other words, there may be fashioned a form of outer casing following the general structure set forth wherein there would be several points at which the casing converges towards the rotating disc, if it is found desirable to give more pulsations to the single revolution. The purview of this invention has in contemplation any shape of elliptical, substantially elliptical, or eccentrically formed outer casing. Furthermore, it is held to be the obvious right of this applicant to employ any of the well known mechanical arrangements shown in the pat-- ents for refiners of like character to prevent or adjust the main shaft against undesirable dis lacement lengthwise in operation.

avin now described this invention and ex'plaine the mode of its operation, I claim 1. In a refining engine, in combination, a main shaft, a cutting member driven by said shaft,'an elliptical casing having a cutting wall, said member being arranged in proximity to said wall and revoluble with respect thereto, the path of said member being closely adjacent to said casing at its shortest diameter, and said casing having stuff inlet and outlet passages.

2. In a refining engine, in combination, a main shaft, a cutting member driven by said shaft, an elliptical casing having cutting side walls, said member being arranged in proximity to and between said walls and revoluble with respect thereto, the path of said member being closely adjacent to said casing at its shortest diameter, and said casing having inlet and outlet passages.

3. In a refining engine, in combination, a main shaft, a cutting member driven by said shaft, an elliptical casing having a revoluble cutting wall, means for revolving said wall, said member being arranged in proximity to said Wall and revoluble with respect thereto, the path of said member being closely adjacent to said casing at its shortest diameter, and the said casing having stuff inlet and outlet passages. 1 4. In a refining engine, in combination, a main shaft, a cutting member driven by said shaft, an elliptical casing having revoluble cutting side walls, means for revolving said walls, said member being arranged in proximity to and between said walls and revoluble with respect thereto, the path of said member being closely adjacent to said casing. at its shortest diameter, and said casing having stuff inlet and outlet passages.

5. In a refining engine, in combination, a

main shaft, a cutting member driven by said shaft, an elliptical casing having a cutting wall provided with a hollow central outwardly extending portion surrounding said shaft, said portion constituting a stuff passage, the said member being arranged in proximity to said wall and revoluble with respect thereto, the path of said member being closely adjacent to said casing at its shortest diameter, a box form bearing for said shaft in communication with said wall extension and having an opening for stuff to pass, and said casing having another stufi' passage.

6. In a refining engine, in combination, a main shaft, a cutting member driven by said shaft, an elliptical casing having a cutting wall on each side, said walls being provided with central outwardly extending portions surrounding said shaft and constituting stuff passages, the said member being arranged in box form element provided with bearing for said shaft and for said cylindrical portion of said revoluble wall, said bearings box having an opening for the passage of stuff, the said cutting member being arranged in proximity to said wall and revoluble with respect thereto, the path of said member being closely adjacent to said casing at its shortest diameter, and said casing having another stufi passage.

8. In a refining engine, in combination, a

- main shaft, a cutting member driven by said shaft, an elliptical casing having revoluble cutting side walls, means for revolving said walls, said walls having central hollow cylindrical portions outwardly extending and constituting stuff passages surrounding the shaft, box form elements provided with bearings for said shaft and for said cylindrical portions of said revoluble walls, said bearing boxes having openings for the passage of stuff, the said cutting member being arranged in proximity to said walls and revoluble between said walls and with respect thereto, the path of said member being closely adj acent to said casing at its shortest diameter.

9. In a refining engine, in combination, a main shaft, a cutting member driven by said shaft, an elliptical casing having revoluble cutting side walls, means for revolving said walls, said walls havin central hollow cylindrical portions outwar ly extending and constituting stuff passages surrounding the shaft, impellers carried by the shaft in the said cylindrical portions of the Walls, boxform elements provided with bearings for said shaft and for said cylindrical portions of the revoluble walls, said bearing boxes having openings for the passage of stuff, the said cutting member being arranged in proximity to said walls and revoluble between said walls and with respect thereto, and the path of said member being closely adjacent to said casing at its shortest diameter.

10. In a refining engine, in combination,an elliptical outer casing, movable side walls for the casing, and means for adjusting said walls in or out with respect to the said cas- 111g.

11. In a refining engine, in combination, an elliptical outer casing, circular side walls for the casing, means for sup orting the said walls rotatively and means or rotatively adjusting the said walls in or out with respect to the casing.

12. In a refining engine, in combination, an

elliptical outer casing, circular side walls for the casing, said walls and casing having mutually engaging spiral threads, and means for rotatively adjusting the said walls in or out with respect to the said casing.

13. In a refining engine, in combination, an

ice 

